Display fixture



April 20, 1954 J. A. JEGEN 2,675,924

DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed July7, 1952 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 lllllll Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY FIXTURE Julian A. Jegen, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,506

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a display fixtureand more particularly to a fixture adapted to be arranged in a variety of shapes and sizes to effectively display various types of merchandise.

Fixtures heretofore provided for use in displaying merchandise have usually been formed of several parts bolted or otherwise secured together to provide a fixture of fixed size and shape, thus limiting the use of the fixture to articles of particular size and/or shape. It will also be apparent that a fixture of fixed size and shape limits the variety of display combinations of the articles, is unsuited for displaying articles of certain shapes and sizes, and always occupies the same amount of space.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a display fixture embodying a plurality of shelves adapted to be supported in various positions relative to each other upon a plurality of columns, the columns being formed with axially spaced annular grooves in which the ends of the shelves are selectively mounted to form a fixture of desired size and shape to most effectively display articles of various shapes and sizes.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a display fixture in which the several parts are adapted to be arranged in numerous positions to suit the size and type of merchandise to be displayed, the parts being readily assembled at the point of use to form a rigid sturdy structure in which the several parts are engaged in fixed position without fasteners, such as bolts,

' screws, or the like, and without employing the use of tools. I

' This invention further contemplates the provision of a multiple section display in,which-the several columns and shelvesare adapted to be arranged to occupy a certain space and to present an ornamental attractive appearance capable of arresting the attention of potential purchasers of merchandise. Y

This invention further contemplates a display fixture embodying a plurality of shelves having their ends formed with concave surfaces comple mentary to convex annular surfaces formed on the columns whereby the shelves are radially adjustable about the'axis of the columns.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a display structure in which the shelves and their supporting columns may be of various shapes and sizes to thereby enhance the appearance of the display and also to increase the variety of combinations and arrangements of parts in the structure. 7

A further object of thisinvention is to provide 2 a display fixture in which the sides of the shelves and columns are defined by curvilinear surfaces to thus avoid the usual box-like appearance presented in some display structures.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view showing a display fix.- ture embodying features of the present invention, parts of the columns being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of same, partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing another modified form of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of same.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing another modified form of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of same. 7

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 therein, the display fixture is shown as comprising a pair of columns 2 and 4 formed and arranged to support a lurality of shelves 6 only one of which is shown. The columns 2 and 4 are preferably formed of'relatively strong, inexpensive, lightweight material, such as wood, plastic, glass, sheet metal, or the like, and the shelves 6 are also preferably formed of such-materials.

To provide a display fixture having a unique, attractive, ornamental appearanceand adapted to be readily assembled to provide a sturdy structure capable of supporting various types of articles, the columns 2 and 4 are preferably of cylindrical form and of different diameters and heights and the shelf 6 is cut from fiat sheet material and formed with curvilinear side edges -l--'!. The column 2 is formed with a plurality of axially spaced, annular grooves 8, 9 and In of similar size and shape, each groove being defined by spaced parallel upper and-lower. walls l l and i2 and an annular inner wall l3. The column 4 is of smaller diameter and greater height than the column 2 and is formed with a plurality of grooves l4, l5, l6 and I! of similar size and shape, each groove being defined by spaced, parallel upper and lower walls [8 and I9 and an annular inner wall 2|. To effect a saving in weight, it is apparent that the columns may be of hollow or tubular form.

One end of the shelf 6 is formed with a concave arcuate surface 22 having a radius corresponding to the radius of the inner walls 13 of the grooves formed in the column 2, while the other end of the shelf is formed with a concave arcuate surface 23 having a radius corresponding to the radius of the inner walls 2| of the grooves formed in the column 4. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the grooves 8, 9 and H] in the column 2 are in horizontal alignment with the grooves 14, I and I6, respectively, in the column 4 to permit adjustment of the shelf 6 to different levels or to receive a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. The upper and lower walls of the grooves formed in the columns are spaced to snugly receive the ends of the shelf. It will also be noted that the columns may be of non-circular cross section, such as square, hexagonal, oval, etc., if desired, without otherwise changing the interlocking construction of the columns and shelf, and that a plurality of similar shelves 6 may be supported in vertically spaced horizontal planes between the columns.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 in the drawings, I. modified form of this invention is shown as comprising columns 2 and 4 associated with a column 26 to support a plurality of shelves, the column 26 being formed with a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves 21, 28 and 29 preferably corresponding in shape, size and spacing to the grooves l4, I5 and I6 formed in the column 4. Each of the grooves 21, 28 and 29 is formed with an annular inner wall 3| having a radius corresponding to the radius of each of the con.- cave arcuate surfaces 32 formed at opposite ends of a shelf 33. In this form of the invention, the columns 2, 4 and 26 serve to support three shelves 6, i and 33 angularly disposed with respect to each other and arranged in vertically spaced horizontal planes. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the form heretofore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in the drawings.

Figs. 5 and 6 in the drawings illustrate another modified form of this invention in which the display fixture is shown as comprising a plurality of columns 35, 31', 38 and arranged to support a plurality of shelves 4!, 42, 43 and 44 disposed in three vertically spaced horizontal planes thereby forming an adjustable closed chain of shelves.

The columns are preferably formed of different lengths with one or more similar annular grooves 46 to snugly receive the ends of the shelves, each groove having an annular inner wall 47 complementary to a concave arcuate surface 48 of the shelf received therein. As heretofore set forth, it is desirable to provide shelves with curvilinear side edges and, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the shelf 44 is shown as formed with scalloped side edges 49. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the forms heretofore described.

Figs. 7 and 8 in the drawings illustrate another modified form of this invention in which the display fixture is shown as comprising columns 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55 arranged to support shelves 56, 51, 58, 59 and 60 in four vertically spaced horizontal planes, the columns being formed with axially spaced annular grooves 6| and the shelves having concave arcuate surfaces 62 engaged against complementary inner walls 63 of the grooves. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the forms heretofore described.

In the several forms of the invention, it will be apparent that the columns and shelves may be formed and arranged to provide display fixtures of various shapes and sizes to support articles of various shapes and sizes, and further that the several parts of the display structure may be readily assembled and disassembled with out the use of fasteners or tools. By forming the columns with axially spaced annular grooves, the shelves may be radially positioned about the axis of the column and at various levels.

While this invention has been shown in several forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Means providing a system of shelving including at least three column members formed with axially spaced grooves having annular inner walls, a plurality of shelves for assembly 'th said columns by engagement therewith within said grooves, parts of said shelves for providing such engagement having concave surfaces substantially complementary to the inner walls of said columns, the said concave surfaces of said shelves having an arcuate extent substan tially less than at least two coplanar horizontal shelves thereby adapted to have their adjacent ends in the same groove of a single column.

2. Means providing a system of shelving, including at least four column members formed with axially spaced grooves having annular inner walls, a plurality of shelves for assembly with said columns by engagement therewith within said grooves, parts of said shelves for providing such engagement having concave arcuate surfaces substantially complementary to the inner walls of said columns, said column members and shelves forming a closed chain, the said concave surfaces of said shelves having an arcuate extent substantially less than 186", at least two coplanar horizontal shelves thereby adapted to have their adjacent ends in the same groove of a single column.

3. Means providing a system of shelving as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial spacing of said grooves provides for relative stepped arrangement of said shelves upon said columns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 127,948 Bassett June 18, 1872 387,267 Talbot Aug. 7, 1888 440.55% Fisher Nov. 11, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 191,108 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1937 

